To the point
Here's our comparison of two very similar cards: the American Express Aeroplan Card and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
TD and American Express Canada offer two Aeroplan credit cards for travellers:
In terms of design, gray color and features, they are very similar. Let’s analyze the small details to see the differences.
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus offered by each of these cards varies according to the promotions.
Here is how the current offer is structured:
With this welcome offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points.
Here’s how:
- 10,000 Aeroplan points after first purchase ;
- 20,000 Aeroplan points if you spend $6,000 within 180 days of account opening;
- 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of account opening.
Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this Welcome Bonus is worth approximately $1,000.
With this welcome offer, the AeroplanMD* American ExpressMD Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points.
Here’s how:
- 30,000 Aeroplan points after $3,000 in purchases in the first three months ;
- 20,000 Aeroplan Points after $1,000 in purchases in the 13th month following enrolment.
Based on our valuation of Aeroplan points (2 cents per point), this Welcome Bonus is worth approximately $1,000.
Advantage: American Express
With the AeroplanMD* American ExpressMD Card, you could earn 30,000 points by spending $3,000. Plus, if you spend an additional $1,000 during the 13th month, you’ll earn an additional 20,000 Aeroplan Points.
Whereas on the TDMD AeroplanMD Visa Infinite* Card side, you’ll need to spend $6,000 over six months to earn the 30,000 points and $10,000 in total to earn up to 50,000 points.
Minimum income
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires an annual personal household income of $60,000 or $100,000.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card does not require a minimum income.
Advantage: American Express
Like the vast majority of American Express cards, this Aeroplan card requires no minimum income. If this is important to you, this card is much easier to get.
Whereas the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires a higher income.
Annual fee
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $139.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card has an annual fee of $120.
Advantage: American Express
If you want to keep your Aeroplan credit card long-term, the American Express card has a lower annual fee ($120 vs. $139 on the TD side).
Standard earning rate
The two cards offer different point earning rates.
Earning rates
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you get different levels:
- 1.5 points per dollar on gas, groceries, Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you earn:
- 2 points per dollar on eligible Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases
- 1.5 points per dollar on restaurant, bar and home delivery purchases
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
Advantage: TD
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card restricts its highest earning rate to Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. If you do a lot of spending with these companies, this will benefit you.
With restaurant expenses, you earn 1.5 points per dollar with the American Express Card. Thus, you will get more points with it than with the 1 point of the TD card.
But the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card wins the battle. Since the biggest budget items are groceries and gas, this card is more advantageous: 1.5 points per dollar. It’s better than American Express.
Finally, the game is tied for the other purchases: 1 point per dollar with both cards.
Redeeming points
Both cards are designed for travellers who earn Aeroplan points.
These points are used to book airline tickets with Air Canada, Star Alliance and partner airlines. Browse the Aeroplan flight rewards chart.
You can also use your Aeroplan points for hotel reservations, car rentals or vacation packages with Air Canada Vacations.
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn Aeroplan points only.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you earn Aeroplan points only.
It's a tie !
Since both are used to earn Aeroplan points and both are co-branded Aeroplan cards, there is no one card that is better than the other.
Each month, both card transfer points to the cardholder’s Aeroplan account a few days after the statement is issued.
Once Aeroplan Points are in the Aeroplan account, there is no way out: you must use them only within the Aeroplan program. Then, as long as you hold either of these card , your Aeroplan points do not expire.
The Benefits
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you’ll have:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation
- Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in net purchases
- $100 account credit every 48 months for NEXUS membership or renewal fees
- Access to Visa Infinite benefits (concierge, luxury hotel collection, vineyard tours, additional travel benefits)
- Many promotions with Aeroplan (Aeroplan points rebates, discounts on flights, credits or Aeroplan points to the account, link your account with Starbucks)
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you receive the following benefits:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation
- Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in net purchases
- American Express Experiences allows you to purchase tickets to popular events (concerts, plays and special events) before anyone else
- Wide variety of American Express promotional offers (statement credits on a variety of purchases made at many retailers)
It's a tie !
Because the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has more advantages in terms of numbers, it would be a winner.
But it is interesting to analyze those of the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card. In fact, some of these offers are not limited to Air Canada or Aeroplan. They affect many different retailers (1Password, Marriott Bonvoy, Quickbooks, TurboTax, Columbia, Kinton Ramen, etc.).
The choice is yours on this point, as your lifestyle will determine this winner.
Insurance
| Insurance |  |
 |
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | Up to $1,500 | None |
| Trip Interruption Insurance | Up to $5,000 | None |
| Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance | Up to $2,000,000 21 days |
None |
| Flight delay insurance | Up to $500 after 4 hours |
Up to $500 after 4 hours |
| Misdirected Baggage Insurance | Up to $1,000 after 6 hours |
Up to $500 after 4 hours |
| Lost or stolen luggage insurance | Up to $1,000 | Up to $500 |
| Hotel Burglary Insurance | Up to $2,500 | Up to $500 |
| Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance | Up to $65,000 | Up to $85,000 |
| Travel accident insurance | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan | 1 additional year | 1 additional year |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | Up to $1,000 90 days |
Up to $1,000 90 days |
Advantage: TD
The insurance offered by the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is superior. It offers cancellation, trip interruption and emergency medical expenses, which its counterpart does not have at all.
Bottom Line
So? Who is the big winner?
For all its features, and thanks to better insurance, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card wins the match!
However, if the $60,000 minimum income requirement is too much for you, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is an excellent replacement.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card stands out thanks to:
- its earning rate
- its superior travel insurance
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card stands out thanks to:
- No minimum income
- Promotional offers partly offsetting the cost of the annual fee
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